Sunday, April 16, 2006

Easter

God keeps painting a more vivid picture of the cross and the meaning it holds for me...
(this follows the whole fear of the Lord post)
As I stare at my Saviour dying on the cross, I hear His anguished cry,
"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani"
(which means My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?) - Matt 27:46b

My proud heart, my unrepentant spirit, and my selfish nature just looks on unmoved. It is at that exact moment when Jesus cries out and gives up His spirit, that I feel a hand on my shoulder. I know, without having to turn back and look, that it is the hand of God, comforting me, loving me as i watch His Son die. The scene up to this point reminds me about how God is always there to love us and guide us, even when we don't think we need Him. Thankfully our God knows much better than we do, and is more faithful than we ever are.

I am broken. The God of all the universe is standing behind this wretched sinner, one who has sinned through and through, and often doesn't realise or acknowledge her sin (those are the worst kinds, the kinds we don't acknowledge). Beginning to tear, I ask why? why me? Who am I, that the God would send His Son to die for me? Who am I, that I would inflict on God and Jesus so much pain when They had to endure separation of the worst kind - the separation of death? Who am I, that Jesus, God's righteous, perfect, unblemished Son would endure such physical pain and torture and death on the cross? Who am I to deserve all of this?


"You are Cheryl, whom I love" -God





The message of Easter and Good Friday is not one of guilt and shame. It is a message of love, victory and hope. The great love of the Father, the victory over death, and the hope of a new life, a purposeful, meaningful, joyful, abundant, amazing life in Christ. The cross is not only a reminder of our sinfulness and God's righteousness, it is also an invitation to love and be loved.
Christ died for you, Christ rose from death. My redeemer lives.
That's why I live, love, change, sing, praise and serve.

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